Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology最新文献

{"title":"A Comparison Between Italian Division I and College American Football Players in the NFL Combine Test Battery.","authors":"Federico Nigro, Sandro Bartolomei, Alessio D'Amico, Simone Ciacci, Rocco Di Michele, Vittorio Coloretti, Matteo Cortesi","doi":"10.3390/jfmk10010008","DOIUrl":"10.3390/jfmk10010008","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Objectives</b>: The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the level of physical capacities of Italian American Football (AF) players and compare their performances with published data of American college players. A secondary aim was to assess whether the performance of Italian players in the NFL Combine tests has improved over time compared to previously tested players of similar competitive level. A total of 41 Italian AF players (age 28.1 ± 4.7 y, stature 181.1 ± 5.9 cm, body mass 98.3 ± 17.8 kg) competing in the 2020/2021 Division I Championship, participated in this study and performed the NFL Combine test battery. <b>Methods</b>: The NFL Combine test battery includes the 40-yard dash, the 20-yard shuttle, the 3-cone drill tests, the broad jump test, the vertical jump test, and the maximum number of repetitions at bench press with a 100 kg load. Players were divided into three groups based on their playing position: skill players (SP = 14), big skill players (BSP = 9), or linemen (LM = 13). In addition, players' performance scores were normalized to their stature and body weight. <b>Results</b>: Italian players showed lower performances in all the six tests compared to American college players. Significant differences were observed between player positions. Normalized performances were significantly lower in Italian compared to American players. <b>Conclusions</b>: Despite an improving trend in the NFL Combine tests being registered in Italian AF players, a relevant gap still exists compared to their US counterparts.</p>","PeriodicalId":16052,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology","volume":"10 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2024-12-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11755450/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143023619","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Special Issue \"Exercise and Neurodegenerative Disease 2.0\".","authors":"Grazia Maugeri, Velia D'Agata","doi":"10.3390/jfmk10010007","DOIUrl":"10.3390/jfmk10010007","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>It is well known that sedentary life is detrimental for human health; on the contrary, an active lifestyle represents an efficient instrument to guarantee and promote physical and psychological health [...].</p>","PeriodicalId":16052,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology","volume":"10 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2024-12-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11755454/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143023670","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Multisport-Integrated Training for Rugby Instructors: Success and Effects on Minirugby Players.","authors":"Marta Rigon, Gabriele Signorini, Raffaele Scurati, Athos Trecroci, Dario Colella, Damiano Formenti, Giampiero Merati, Domenico Cherubini, Pietro Luigi Invernizzi","doi":"10.3390/jfmk10010011","DOIUrl":"10.3390/jfmk10010011","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background/objectives: </strong>The educational system thinking approach (ST) takes a holistic vision of instructors/teachers and learners' relationships, making sports pivotal for reflection on education. This study evaluated the efficacy of a multisport ST-based course on minirugby instructors' teaching competence and children players' motor conduct.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The twenty-five rugby instructors (IAC) attended the 25 h course and the children of their teams (n = 109, Ch-IAC) participated in this study as experimental groups. Twenty-five rugby instructors who were not attending the course (I-CON) and their pupils (n = 111, Ch-CON) acted as control groups. Changes in instructors' teaching competence (by the Instrument for Identifying the Teaching Style and the System for Observing Fitness Instruction Time) and children's motor conduct (by the Körperkoordinationtest für Kinder test, the Game Performance Assessment Instrument, the Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale, and the physical self-efficacy scale for children) were assessed.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Thanks to the education received, IAC improved in didactics and methodological competence. They learned to use more production teaching styles than CON (10.5 ± 9.3% vs. 0% of the lesson time, <i>p</i> < 0.05), reduce children's inactive lesson time for management (-5.1 ± 3.3% vs. 1.1 ± 3.1%, <i>p</i> < 0.05) and promote more outside lesson topics (4.4 ± 3.2% vs. 0%, <i>p</i> < 0.05). In addition, compared to Ch-CON, Ch-IAC significantly improved motor coordination, game performance, enjoyment, and self-efficacy (<i>p</i> < 0.05).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Children's enjoyment and self-efficacy acted as mediators that amplified the effects of the multisport training course. At the same time, the instructor's didactical and methodological competence were moderators directly favoring or worsening children's motor competence. Such an integrated multisport model is applicable and suggested for improving sports performance and education processes.</p>","PeriodicalId":16052,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology","volume":"10 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2024-12-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11755658/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143023591","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Chilean National Sports Talent Detection System: Influence of Biological Age, Sex, and Geographic Area.","authors":"Ariel Guevara-Araya, Samuel Curripan-Henríquez, Juan Aguilera-Julio, Ana Antinao-Soto, Oscar F Araneda","doi":"10.3390/jfmk10010006","DOIUrl":"10.3390/jfmk10010006","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The purpose of this study was to assess the methodology for selecting sports talent in the Chilean Promising Athletes Program (CPAP).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The standing broad jump (SBJ), medicine ball chest throw (MBCT), thirty-meter running sprint (RS-30), Agility-T (T-test), and height were analyzed in 3060 schoolchildren from Chile, grouped by sex, age, geographical area (north, central and south) and maturity status at peak height velocity (PHV) in pre-, circa- and post-PHV.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Superior differences were found in boys for all age ranges in SBJ, RS-30, T-test, and MBCT (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Girls were taller than boys until the age of 12 years (<i>p</i> < 0.01) with a reversal of this trend after 13 years old (<i>p</i> < 0.001). In geographical grouping, higher scores in SBJ, RS-30, and T-test were found in the central zone for boys and girls (<i>p</i> < 0.05). In both sexes, higher scores for the northern zone in MBCT (<i>p</i> < 0.01) and height (<i>p</i> < 0.05) are observed. Among selected talents, when comparing post-PHV vs. pre-PHV the differences are superior in all tests for post-PHV in girls and for MBCT and height (<i>p</i> < 0.05) in boys. In circa-PHV vs. post-PHV in MBCT, T-test, and RS-30 only girls (<i>p</i> < 0.05) were superior in post-PHV. For pre-PHV vs. circa-PHV, RS-30, and height (<i>p</i> < 0.05), both sexes were superior in circa-PHV. There are differences between talents selected by physical tests and technical aspects (<i>p</i> < 0.05).</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The results show variations in physical and anthropometric tests in schoolchildren by age, sex, geography, and maturity status that should be considered for talent selection.</p>","PeriodicalId":16052,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology","volume":"10 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2024-12-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11755584/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143023643","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Optimizing Performance in Badminton Tournaments: The Relationship Between Timing, Quantity, and Quality Among Professional Players.","authors":"Jen-Hao Hsu, Hsin-Lun Lin, Hung-Chieh Fan Chiang, Duan-Shin Lee, Yang Lee, Cheng-Wei Huang, Zai-Fu Yao","doi":"10.3390/jfmk10010005","DOIUrl":"10.3390/jfmk10010005","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background/Objectives:</b> Top badminton players must carefully schedule tournaments to perform well and improve their rankings. This study examines how players plan their tournament participation and whether their scheduling strategies affect their rankings and performance, especially during Olympic and non-Olympic years. <b>Methods:</b> Data were extracted from the Badminton World Federation (BWF) ranking system for the top 50 men's and women's singles players from May 2014 to May 2019. A computer-based simulation model and cluster analysis were applied to analyze tournament participation patterns, recovery intervals, and performance trends. Statistical analyses were conducted to identify correlations between these variables and ranking outcomes. <b>Results:</b> Top-ranked players participated in more tournaments during Olympic years, with those competing in more than nine tournaments achieving better results. Players performing well in higher-graded tournaments tended to take longer recovery breaks, whereas lower-performing players entered more tournaments. Cluster analysis revealed two distinct performance groups, with the top 20 men's and top 12 women's singles players adopting different strategies compared to lower-ranked counterparts. <b>Conclusions:</b> Strategic scheduling of tournaments, including balancing participation frequency and recovery intervals, is vital for optimizing performance and achieving sustained ranking success. These findings emphasize the importance of high-graded tournament selection and tailored schedules for elite players.</p>","PeriodicalId":16052,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology","volume":"10 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2024-12-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11755632/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143023664","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Repeatability and Validity of Different Methods to Determine the Anaerobic Threshold Through the Maximal Multistage Test in Male Cyclists and Triathletes.","authors":"Iñaki Llodio, Javier Yanci, Mikel Usandizaga, Auritz Larrea, Aitor Iturricastillo, Jesús Cámara, Cristina Granados","doi":"10.3390/jfmk10010009","DOIUrl":"10.3390/jfmk10010009","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Objectives</b>: The aim of this study was to analyze the repeatability and validity of different methods to determine the anaerobic threshold through a maximal multistage cycling test; <b>Methods</b>: In total, 17 male endurance-trained athletes [7 cyclists and 10 triathletes, age 33.2 ± 6.9 yr, workload at maximal lactate steady state (MLSS_W) 268 ± 27 W] participated in the study. The participants performed a maximal multistage cycling test twice to analyze the repeatability of the anaerobic threshold (AT) using nine different methods. In the remaining sessions, several 20 min constant load tests were performed to determine MLSS_W (gold standard); <b>Results</b>: The workload corresponding to 73% of the maximal power (AT_73Pmax) showed the best repeatability followed by the Dmax method calculated from the blood lactate concentration ([La^-]) associated with the Minimum Lactate Equivalent and final [La^-] (Dmax_LE). Validity analyses showed that all AT determined in the present study were strong predictors of MLSS_W, however, AT_73Pmax and the workloads at 1.5 mmol·L^-1 above the first lactate threshold significantly underestimated MLSS_W. The use of correction equations for these variables lowered their absolute mean bias to <5 W. Dmax_LE and workload associated with the 86% of the maximal heart rate showed the narrowest limits of agreement to estimate MLSS_W closely followed by corrected AT_73Pmax; <b>Conclusions</b>: AT_73Pmax, using the correction equation and Dmax_LE, stand out as powerful predictors of MLSS_W among the variables analyzed in the present study in trained cyclists or triathletes. Sports physiologists and coaches can use corrected AT_73Pmax and Dmax_LE to accurately assess athletes' endurance capacity and prescribe their training.</p>","PeriodicalId":16052,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology","volume":"10 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2024-12-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11755602/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143023669","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Acute Effects of Fast vs. Slow Bench Press Repetitions with Equal Time Under Tension on Velocity, sEMG Activity, and Applied Force in the Bench Press Throw.","authors":"Athanasios Tsoukos, Michal Wilk, Michal Krzysztofik, Adam Zajac, Gregory C Bogdanis","doi":"10.3390/jfmk10010004","DOIUrl":"10.3390/jfmk10010004","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background:</b> The tempo of resistance exercises is known to influence performance outcomes, yet its specific effects on post-activation performance enhancement (PAPE) remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the effects of fast versus slow repetitions at a load of 70% of one-repetition maximum (1-RM) in the bench press exercise, focusing on velocity, surface electromyographic (sEMG) activity, and applied force while equating time under tension on bench press throw performance. <b>Methods:</b> Eleven men (age: 23.5 ± 5.4 years, height: 1.79 ± 0.04 m, body mass: 79.1 ± 6.4 kg, maximum strength 1-RM: 91.0 ± 12.0 kg) participated. Two experimental conditions (FAST and SLOW) and one control (CTRL) were randomly assigned. Participants performed two sets of six repetitions as fast as possible (FAST condition) and two sets of three repetitions at a controlled tempo (SLOW condition) at half the concentric velocity of FAST, as determined in a preliminary session. Before and after the bench press participants performed bench press throws tests (Pre, 45 s, 4, 8, and 12 min after). <b>Results:</b> sEMG activity and peak force during the bench press were higher in FAST vs. SLOW conditioning activity (<i>p</i> < 0.001), with time under tension showing no significant differences between conditions (<i>p</i> > 0.05). Mean propulsive velocity (MPV) during the bench press throw improved equally in both FAST and SLOW conditions compared with baseline from the 4th to the 12th min of recovery (FAST: +6.8 ± 2.9% to +7.2 ± 3.3%, <i>p</i> < 0.01, SLOW: +4.0 ± 3.0% to +3.6 ± 4.5%, <i>p</i> < 0.01, respectively). Compared to the CTRL, both conditions exhibited improved MPV values from the 4th to 12th min (<i>p</i> < 0.01). Peak velocity improvements were observed only after the FAST condition compared to the baseline (<i>p</i> < 0.01) with no differences from SLOW. For all muscles involved and time points, sEMG activity during bench press throws was higher than CTRL in both experimental conditions (<i>p</i> < 0.01), with no differences between FAST and SLOW. Peak force increased in both FAST and SLOW conditions at all time points (<i>p</i> < 0.05), compared to CTRL. <b>Conclusions:</b> These findings suggest that post-activation performance enhancement is independent of movement tempo, provided that the resistive load and total time under tension of the conditioning activity are similar. This study provides valuable insights into the complex training method for athletes by demonstrating that varying tempo does not significantly affect post-activation performance enhancement when load and TUT are equated.</p>","PeriodicalId":16052,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology","volume":"10 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2024-12-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11755598/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143023636","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Content Validity of a New Soccer (Football) Return-to-Play Test: The RONDO-TEST.","authors":"Sergi Matas, Carlos Lalín, Francisco Corbi, Antoni Planas-Anzano, José M Moya, Sebastià Mas-Alòs, Xavier Peirau-Terés","doi":"10.3390/jfmk10010003","DOIUrl":"10.3390/jfmk10010003","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>The aim was to assess the content validity of a new field test on general and soccer-specific motor skills before return to play.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The RONDO-TEST was assessed by a Delphi panel for its content validity. It included a survey to evaluate 16 items related to the test consisting of four 10 m lines which cross over at their mid-point, resulting in eight 5 m sectors that include locomotor skills (speeding, moving sideways, side cutting, and jumping) and soccer-specific technical skills (dribbling, slalom course, and kicking/passing). The content validity was calculated with the Aiken's V coefficient of acceptance at 0.69 and 95% of confidence interval.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Eight experts participated in the Delphi and agreed on the administration procedures after three rounds of suggestions. Major changes included the order of execution and the descriptions of the sectors. The results showed consensus (V = 1, maximum acceptance) for the clarity of instructions, the relevance of the skills to be evaluated, the order of execution, the materials and the relevance of measuring total and partial sector times.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The RONDO-TEST may be feasible and simple to administer and evaluate technical functional skills (actions) and condition-related abilities (e.g., the ability to repeat the test, fatigue curve, etc.), which are relevant aspects for return to play under optimum conditions.</p>","PeriodicalId":16052,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology","volume":"10 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2024-12-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11755452/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143023582","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The Trail Runners' Tendon-How Do Weekly Mileage and Elevation Gain Affect Achilles and Patellar Tendon Morphology?","authors":"Alberto Rubio-Peirotén, Antonio Cartón-Llorente, Hendrik Mugele, Diego Jaén-Carrillo","doi":"10.3390/jfmk10010001","DOIUrl":"10.3390/jfmk10010001","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Background</b>: Unlike road running, mountain and trail running typically cover longer distances and include uphill and downhill segments that impose unique physiological and mechanical demands on athletes. <b>Objectives</b>: This study aimed to identify morphological differences in the patellar and Achilles tendons between trail and road runners. Moreover, the potential influence of weekly mileage and accumulated positive elevation gain on the morphology of both tendons was obtained. <b>Design</b>: Cross-sectional comparative study. Methods: Thirty-three road runners (11 women, 22 men) and thirty-three trail runners (13 women, 20 men) were recruited and their weekly mileage and elevation gain collected. All participants had a weekly training volume exceeding 20 km. The thickness and cross-sectional area (CSA) of their patellar and Achilles tendons were evaluated using ultrasound. <b>Results</b>: Independent samples <i>t</i>-tests revealed significant differences between groups for the Achilles tendon (<i>p</i> < 0.003) but not for the patellar tendon (<i>p</i> > 0.330). Further, Spearman's correlation coefficients indicated moderate positive correlations for the thickness and CSA of the Achilles tendon with weekly running volume (0.256 and 0.291, respectively) and with elevation gain (0.332 and 0.334, respectively), suggesting a tendency for the tendon to adapt to greater training loads, enhancing its structural integrity and resilience. <b>Conclusions</b>: Trail runners exhibit larger and thicker Achilles tendons, likely due to increased weekly mileage and elevation gain, highlighting the adaptive response to mechanical overload from uphill running.</p>","PeriodicalId":16052,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology","volume":"10 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2024-12-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11755538/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143023672","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome: Focused Vibrations Plus Kinesiotaping with Insights into Radiological Influences-An Observational Study.","authors":"Gabriele Santilli, Milvia Martino, Patrizia Pacini, Francesco Agostini, Andrea Bernetti, Luca Giuliani, Giovanni Del Gaudio, Massimiliano Mangone, Vincenzo Colonna, Mario Vetrano, Maria Chiara Vulpiani, Giulia Stella, Antonello Ciccarelli, Samanta Taurone, Antonio Franchitto, Carlo Ottonello, Vito Cantisani, Marco Paoloni, Pietro Fiore, Francesca Gimigliano","doi":"10.3390/jfmk10010002","DOIUrl":"10.3390/jfmk10010002","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>This observational study investigates the efficacy of combining local muscle vibration (LMV) therapy and kinesiotaping using the McConnell method (KMcCM) in patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS). PFPS is a prevalent knee condition characterized by anterior or medial knee pain exacerbated by activities that overload the patellofemoral joint.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of LMV combined with KMcCM in reducing pain and improving function in PFPS patients.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A total of 52 participants, aged 25-85, with PFPS were included. Participants underwent LMV and KMcCM treatments three times weekly for three weeks. Pain and function were assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) at baseline (T0) and six months post-treatment (T1). Radiological assessments of patellar alignment and biomechanics were also conducted through dynamic MRI.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Significant pain reduction and functional improvements were observed across all age groups. Notably, younger participants showed greater improvement compared to older participants. Among women, those in the younger age group experienced more substantial reductions in VAS scores compared to their older counterparts. KOOS scores improved significantly, indicating enhanced knee function overall. A significant decrease in VAS scores from T0 to T1 was observed across all patellar alignment groups, signifying a reduction in pain levels. However, Group 2 (Laxation and Subluxation) experienced the most substantial reduction in VAS scores at T1 compared to the other groups. These results suggest that the combination of LMV and KMcCM may be particularly effective in addressing biomechanical abnormalities associated with patellar maltracking and enhancing VMO muscle contraction, leading to more substantial improvements in these patients.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The combination of LMV and KMcCM demonstrates promising efficacy in reducing pain and improving knee function in PFPS patients, with age and gender influencing treatment outcomes. The most significant improvements were observed in younger individuals and those with specific patellar alignment issues, highlighting the potential of this combined approach for the targeted treatment of PFPS.</p>","PeriodicalId":16052,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology","volume":"10 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2024-12-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11755631/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143023666","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}